3 mar 2019
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said that the government is determined to pay the full salaries of the Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli custody and the families of those killed by Israeli forces, on Sunday afternoon.
Hamdallah said that the government would only be able to pay a portion of the monthly salaries of the civil servants for the month of February, in light of the financial crisis affecting the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a result of Israel’s withholding of the Palestinian tax revenues.
In mid-February, Israel's security cabinet approved the deduction of $138 million from the tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA under the Oslo agreement.
The deduction is deemed to be relative to the said amount that the PA allocates for stipends paid to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, as well as the families of the prisoners.
Israel collects funds from imports into the West Bank and Gaza, in addition to other taxes, and forwards a large sum of it to the PA, after deduction of payments for water and electricity.
The large sum makes up the largest part of the Palestinian government's budget.
Hamdallah said that the government would only be able to pay a portion of the monthly salaries of the civil servants for the month of February, in light of the financial crisis affecting the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a result of Israel’s withholding of the Palestinian tax revenues.
In mid-February, Israel's security cabinet approved the deduction of $138 million from the tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA under the Oslo agreement.
The deduction is deemed to be relative to the said amount that the PA allocates for stipends paid to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, as well as the families of the prisoners.
Israel collects funds from imports into the West Bank and Gaza, in addition to other taxes, and forwards a large sum of it to the PA, after deduction of payments for water and electricity.
The large sum makes up the largest part of the Palestinian government's budget.
20 feb 2019
Israel said that its security cabinet, on Sunday, decided to withhold $138 million (€122 million) in tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority, over its payments to prisoners jailed for attacks on Israelis.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the withheld cash would be equal to that paid by the PA last year to “terrorists imprisoned in Israel, to their families and to released prisoners.”
Israel alleges the payments encourage further violence, AFP/Al Ray reports.
The PA says the payments are a form of welfare to the families who have lost their main breadwinner and denies it is seeking to encourage violence.
Many Palestinians view prisoners, and those killed while carrying out attacks, as heroes in their conflict with Israel. Palestinian leaders often venerate them as martyrs.
Senior Palestine Liberation Organisation official Ahmed Majdalani accused Israel and the United States, which has cut hundreds of millions of dollars in Palestinian aid, of an attempt at blackmail.
US President Donald Trump’s White House is expected to release its long-awaited peace plan, later this year, and that the Palestinians believe will be blatantly biased in favor of Israel.
The Palestinians cut off contact with the White House after Trump’s 2017 declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“The occupation government is seeking to destroy the national authority in partnership with the US administration of Donald Trump,” Majdalani said, in a statement.
US AID CUTS
The move to withhold the money comes in response to an Israeli law passed last year allowing it to do so.
Israel collects around US$127 million a month in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets that transit through Israeli ports, and then transfers the money to the PA.
Earlier this month, Netanyahu pledged to implement the law after a deadly Palestinian attack on a young woman.
He is running in an election scheduled for Apr 9, and has been seeking to shore up his security credentials in the eyes of voters, ahead of polling day.
Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu said, “Today, I will submit for cabinet approval the (legislation on) deducting of the terrorists’ salaries from the Palestinian Authority funds.
“Security officials will brief the cabinet on the scope of the funds. This is an important law which we have advanced, and today we will pass it exactly as I promised.”
The US$138 million will likely be deducted incrementally over a 12-month period, according to local media reports.
Sponsors of the July law on Palestinian funds wrote, at the time, that the PA paid around US$330 million a year to prisoners and their families, or seven percent of its budget.
It was not clear what caused the reduction in the amount.
The Palestinians have already been facing a cut of more than US$500 million in annual aid, by Trump’s administration, mostly to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
The Palestinian Authority also said, in January, that it will refuse all further US government aid for fear of lawsuits over alleged support for terrorism, due to a recently passed US law.
Israel has withheld payments in the past, notably in response to the Palestinians’ 2011 admission to the UN cultural agency UNESCO as a full member.
The PA, which has limited sovereignty in parts of the occupied West Bank, relies heavily on outside financial aid.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the withheld cash would be equal to that paid by the PA last year to “terrorists imprisoned in Israel, to their families and to released prisoners.”
Israel alleges the payments encourage further violence, AFP/Al Ray reports.
The PA says the payments are a form of welfare to the families who have lost their main breadwinner and denies it is seeking to encourage violence.
Many Palestinians view prisoners, and those killed while carrying out attacks, as heroes in their conflict with Israel. Palestinian leaders often venerate them as martyrs.
Senior Palestine Liberation Organisation official Ahmed Majdalani accused Israel and the United States, which has cut hundreds of millions of dollars in Palestinian aid, of an attempt at blackmail.
US President Donald Trump’s White House is expected to release its long-awaited peace plan, later this year, and that the Palestinians believe will be blatantly biased in favor of Israel.
The Palestinians cut off contact with the White House after Trump’s 2017 declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“The occupation government is seeking to destroy the national authority in partnership with the US administration of Donald Trump,” Majdalani said, in a statement.
US AID CUTS
The move to withhold the money comes in response to an Israeli law passed last year allowing it to do so.
Israel collects around US$127 million a month in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets that transit through Israeli ports, and then transfers the money to the PA.
Earlier this month, Netanyahu pledged to implement the law after a deadly Palestinian attack on a young woman.
He is running in an election scheduled for Apr 9, and has been seeking to shore up his security credentials in the eyes of voters, ahead of polling day.
Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu said, “Today, I will submit for cabinet approval the (legislation on) deducting of the terrorists’ salaries from the Palestinian Authority funds.
“Security officials will brief the cabinet on the scope of the funds. This is an important law which we have advanced, and today we will pass it exactly as I promised.”
The US$138 million will likely be deducted incrementally over a 12-month period, according to local media reports.
Sponsors of the July law on Palestinian funds wrote, at the time, that the PA paid around US$330 million a year to prisoners and their families, or seven percent of its budget.
It was not clear what caused the reduction in the amount.
The Palestinians have already been facing a cut of more than US$500 million in annual aid, by Trump’s administration, mostly to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
The Palestinian Authority also said, in January, that it will refuse all further US government aid for fear of lawsuits over alleged support for terrorism, due to a recently passed US law.
Israel has withheld payments in the past, notably in response to the Palestinians’ 2011 admission to the UN cultural agency UNESCO as a full member.
The PA, which has limited sovereignty in parts of the occupied West Bank, relies heavily on outside financial aid.
18 feb 2019
Spokesman for Hamas movement Hazem Qasem on Monday said that the Israeli government's decision to deduct funds from the tax revenues transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is a robbery of the Palestinian people's money.
Qasem said in a press statement that the PA "soft policies" toward the Israeli occupation's practices have encouraged Netanyahu's government to commit more crimes.
"It is regrettable that the Israeli move was preceded by the PA decision to cut the salaries of the families of Palestinian martyrs and prisoners in the Gaza Strip," he added.
Qasem said that the PA should respond to these Israeli practices by ending the security coordination with the Israeli army and lifting the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip.
What is more important, he continued to say, is that the PA stops its monopoly of the decision-making and abide by the signed reconciliation agreements.
Qasem said in a press statement that the PA "soft policies" toward the Israeli occupation's practices have encouraged Netanyahu's government to commit more crimes.
"It is regrettable that the Israeli move was preceded by the PA decision to cut the salaries of the families of Palestinian martyrs and prisoners in the Gaza Strip," he added.
Qasem said that the PA should respond to these Israeli practices by ending the security coordination with the Israeli army and lifting the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip.
What is more important, he continued to say, is that the PA stops its monopoly of the decision-making and abide by the signed reconciliation agreements.
15 feb 2019
Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled AlJarallah on Friday affirmed that the stance of Kuwait is clearly and firmly opposed to normalization of relations with Israel.
"The State of Kuwait will be the last country to normalize relations with Israel," he said, noting "anybody would be mistaken if they imagined that the group picture taken at Warsaw conference signal a change in Kuwait's firm stand on this issue."
"Kuwait took part in Warsaw peace and security conference under joint invitation from the United States and the Republic of Poland with which Kuwait has close relations and allied itself in some issues."
"Besides, the issues on the agenda of the conference have to do with the future of security and peace in the Middle East of which we are a part," AlJarallah said in response to speculations circulated by social media.
"It would be illogical that these topics, including the Palestine question and the developments of the Middle East peace process, are discussed in our absence. Our participation in the conference stemmed from keenness on defending these issues, not plundering them."
"We made our point clear at all international forums, foremost among which is the UN Security Council through our nonpermanent membership," he explained, adding that Kuwait's principled stance was highly appreciated by "the Palestinian brothers."
He reiterated that Kuwait will be the last country to normalize relations with Israel after the realization of a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestine question and the establishment of Palestine State with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, the Arab peace initiative.
Turning back to the group picture, he said that normalization of relations between countries has various forms that do not necessarily include taking group pictures at international conferences.
Kuwait participated in Warsaw conference alongside with other sisterly countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) whose participating delegations were of higher level than that of Kuwait, he noted. The conference was similar to the other numerous international gatherings in which Israel takes part, including the forums being held under the UN umbrella, he added.
"The State of Kuwait will be the last country to normalize relations with Israel," he said, noting "anybody would be mistaken if they imagined that the group picture taken at Warsaw conference signal a change in Kuwait's firm stand on this issue."
"Kuwait took part in Warsaw peace and security conference under joint invitation from the United States and the Republic of Poland with which Kuwait has close relations and allied itself in some issues."
"Besides, the issues on the agenda of the conference have to do with the future of security and peace in the Middle East of which we are a part," AlJarallah said in response to speculations circulated by social media.
"It would be illogical that these topics, including the Palestine question and the developments of the Middle East peace process, are discussed in our absence. Our participation in the conference stemmed from keenness on defending these issues, not plundering them."
"We made our point clear at all international forums, foremost among which is the UN Security Council through our nonpermanent membership," he explained, adding that Kuwait's principled stance was highly appreciated by "the Palestinian brothers."
He reiterated that Kuwait will be the last country to normalize relations with Israel after the realization of a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestine question and the establishment of Palestine State with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, the Arab peace initiative.
Turning back to the group picture, he said that normalization of relations between countries has various forms that do not necessarily include taking group pictures at international conferences.
Kuwait participated in Warsaw conference alongside with other sisterly countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) whose participating delegations were of higher level than that of Kuwait, he noted. The conference was similar to the other numerous international gatherings in which Israel takes part, including the forums being held under the UN umbrella, he added.
The United Nations Human Rights Council is planning to issue seven resolutions against Israel during March, according to Israeli news outlets.
Israeli Channel 2 reported that a report of the Commission of Inquiry into the "Gaza Fence" and the black list of businesses operating inside illegal Israeli settlements and beyond the Green Line will be among the resolutions to be made.
The UN Special Coordinator's report in the Palestinian lands will also be reviewed, in addition to the Goldstone Report of 2009 and Israeli violations in occupied Golan.
Israeli violations of the International Law will also be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council.
Israeli Channel 2 reported that a report of the Commission of Inquiry into the "Gaza Fence" and the black list of businesses operating inside illegal Israeli settlements and beyond the Green Line will be among the resolutions to be made.
The UN Special Coordinator's report in the Palestinian lands will also be reviewed, in addition to the Goldstone Report of 2009 and Israeli violations in occupied Golan.
Israeli violations of the International Law will also be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council.
10 feb 2019
Palestinians living in the Netherlands will be allowed to register the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as their official place of birth, Dutch State Secretary Raymond Knops told the House of Representatives in The Hague.
The Netherlands, which does not recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, currently offers Palestinians two options when specifying their birthplace at the Dutch civil registry, the two options are Israel or “unknown.”
Knops wrote a letter to the House of Representatives, saying that he intends to add the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem to a list of official states used by the Dutch civil registry.
The new category will be available to Palestinians born after May 15th 1948, the day the British Mandate was officially terminated and Israel became a recognized state.
In the letter, Knops stated that the new category is in accordance with “the Dutch viewpoint that Israel has no sovereignty over these areas,” as well as the Netherlands' refusal to recognize Palestine as a state.
Knops added that the new category was named based on the Oslo Accords and United Nations Security Council resolutions.
While the UN General Assembly and at least 136 countries have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, most of the European Union has refrained from recognition until such status is established peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
According to Dutch news outlets, up until 2014, Israel was the only birthplace available to Palestinians registering in the Netherlands. The category “unknown,” also known as code “0000,” was made available to Palestinians living in the Netherlands after opposition to listing Israel as their birthplace.
The Netherlands, which does not recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, currently offers Palestinians two options when specifying their birthplace at the Dutch civil registry, the two options are Israel or “unknown.”
Knops wrote a letter to the House of Representatives, saying that he intends to add the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem to a list of official states used by the Dutch civil registry.
The new category will be available to Palestinians born after May 15th 1948, the day the British Mandate was officially terminated and Israel became a recognized state.
In the letter, Knops stated that the new category is in accordance with “the Dutch viewpoint that Israel has no sovereignty over these areas,” as well as the Netherlands' refusal to recognize Palestine as a state.
Knops added that the new category was named based on the Oslo Accords and United Nations Security Council resolutions.
While the UN General Assembly and at least 136 countries have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, most of the European Union has refrained from recognition until such status is established peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
According to Dutch news outlets, up until 2014, Israel was the only birthplace available to Palestinians registering in the Netherlands. The category “unknown,” also known as code “0000,” was made available to Palestinians living in the Netherlands after opposition to listing Israel as their birthplace.
9 feb 2019
Dozens of Israeli ministers and senior officials from the Likud political party and other right-wing parties have signed a petition to settle two million Jews across the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and ministers Gilad Erdan, Miri Regev, Yisrael Katz of the Likud party, Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett of New Right party, were among signatories on a petition to abandon the two-state solution and establish new Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank.
The signed petition was put forward by the Nahala Movement, an Israeli settler group, to promote an Israeli settlement plan introduced under the government of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir in the early 1900s.
The main objective of the petition is to settle 2 million Jews in the West Bank.
Nahala activists have been recently protesting outside of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, demanding the next government to work toward the settlement of all of West Bank and to abandon the idea of a two-state solution.
Among members of the Likud who have signed the declaration are Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Environmental Protection and Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Culture Minister Miri Regev, Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, Communication Minister Ayoub Kara, Immigration and Absorption Minister Yoav Gallant, Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel and Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Education Minister Naftali Bennett, both of the New Right party, also signed the petition.
The Nahala Movement's declaration read, "I hereby commit to be loyal to the land of Israel, not to cede one inch of our inheritance from our forefathers. I hereby commit to act to realize the settlement plan for the settlement of 2 million Jews in Judea and Samaria in accordance with Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's plan, as well as to encourage and lead the redemption of all the lands throughout Judea and Samaria. I commit to act to cancel the declaration of two states for two peoples and replace it with the stately declaration: The land of Israel: One country for one people."
The Nahala Movement said in a statement that the petition is an “ideological and ethical loyalty test.”
Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.
Israeli Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and ministers Gilad Erdan, Miri Regev, Yisrael Katz of the Likud party, Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett of New Right party, were among signatories on a petition to abandon the two-state solution and establish new Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank.
The signed petition was put forward by the Nahala Movement, an Israeli settler group, to promote an Israeli settlement plan introduced under the government of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir in the early 1900s.
The main objective of the petition is to settle 2 million Jews in the West Bank.
Nahala activists have been recently protesting outside of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, demanding the next government to work toward the settlement of all of West Bank and to abandon the idea of a two-state solution.
Among members of the Likud who have signed the declaration are Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Environmental Protection and Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Culture Minister Miri Regev, Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, Communication Minister Ayoub Kara, Immigration and Absorption Minister Yoav Gallant, Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel and Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Education Minister Naftali Bennett, both of the New Right party, also signed the petition.
The Nahala Movement's declaration read, "I hereby commit to be loyal to the land of Israel, not to cede one inch of our inheritance from our forefathers. I hereby commit to act to realize the settlement plan for the settlement of 2 million Jews in Judea and Samaria in accordance with Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's plan, as well as to encourage and lead the redemption of all the lands throughout Judea and Samaria. I commit to act to cancel the declaration of two states for two peoples and replace it with the stately declaration: The land of Israel: One country for one people."
The Nahala Movement said in a statement that the petition is an “ideological and ethical loyalty test.”
Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.
3 feb 2019
The Arab Interpol of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers issued an arrest warrant, on Saturday, against two Palestinian former officials Khaled Salam and Walid al-Najab.
The Arab Interpol pointed out that the warrant was placed at all Arab airports and land crossings.
The two officials are accused to embezzling millions of dollars of public money when they served in former Palestinian administrations.
The Arab Interpol pointed out that the warrant was placed at all Arab airports and land crossings.
The two officials are accused to embezzling millions of dollars of public money when they served in former Palestinian administrations.
